Page 24 - Uttar Pradesh

Mayawati kicks out nephew from party: What next in BSP's succession cycle?

BSP supremo Mayawati's decision to not name her political heir further clouds the future of the party, which has been struggling to regain political relevance

Sambhal mosque row: Court to hear plea over temple claim on Apr 28

A district court on Wednesday fixed April 28 for hearing a plea claiming that the Shahi Jama mosque here was originally a Harihar Temple. When the matter came up before Civil Judge (Senior Division) Aditya Singh, the matter was deferred to April 28. The petition was initially filed in another court on November 19, 2023. A lawyer representing the Hindu side said the respondent was supposed to submit its written statement, but did not do it. Speaking to media persons, the advocate Gopal Sharma, said, "Today, the hearing took place in the court of Aditya Singh. The next date has been set for April 28. The mosque side's lawyer was to file their written statement today, but they have not submitted it yet." He added, "We have appealed to the court to disallow any further opportunity for them to file their written statement." Shahi Jama Masjid's head Zafar Ali, however, told journalists, "There is a stay from the Supreme Court and High Court, therefore no hearing took place. The date of

Akhilesh hits back at UP CM Yogi for targeting SP over Ansal Group issue

"If everything was wrong, why did you go there for the inauguration instead of sending a bulldozer," asked Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath slammed the party for "favouring" real estate developer Ansal Group during its rule. The Uttar Pradesh Police Tuesday booked the embattled Ansal Group for alleged cheating, breach of trust, criminal conspiracy and organised crime. The action was taken after Chief Minister Adityanath instructed officials to take strict measures and safeguard homebuyers' interests. During a discussion on the Budget in the state assembly on Tuesday, Adityanath said, "Ansal was your (SP's) creation. It was under your government that all its illegal activities were facilitated, deceiving investors and homebuyers." Reacting to the accusation, Akhilesh Yadav questioned the government's stance on investments while highlighting that the same leaders who are now raising allegations had earlier inaugurat

Police lodges FIR against Ansal Group after UP CM Yogi's instructions

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday booked embattled real estate developer Ansal Group for alleged cheating, breach of trust, criminal conspiracy and organised crime, officials said. The FIR was registered a day after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed officials to take strict action in the matter and safeguard homebuyers' interest. The CM also invoked the real estate group's name on Tuesday inside the state assembly to slam opposition Samajwadi Party, accusing it of favouring such builders during its regime. The FIR was lodged at the Gomti Nagar police station in Lucknow on Tuesday evening. It names as accused Ansal Properties and Infra Limited Promoters, Pranav Ansal, Sushil Ansal, Sunil Kumar Gupta, Francette Patrica Atkinson and Vinay Kumar Singh (Director). They have been booked under BNS sections 316(5) (criminal breach of trust), 318(4)(cheating), 338 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc), 336(3)(forgery for cheating), 340(2)(using forged document as genuine), ..

CM Yogi orders FIR against Ansal Group, assures homebuyers protection

Taking cognisance of the Ansal Group case in Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday ordered immediate registration of an FIR against the company, and assured homebuyers their interests would be protected, according to an official statement. This came after the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) initiated insolvency proceedings against the company. During a review meeting of the Housing and Urban Planning Department, the chief minister emphasised that Ansal Group's "fraudulent practices" against homebuyers will not be tolerated. He instructed officials to take strong action against all responsible officers of the company. "To ensure justice for those affected, CM Adityanath directed that FIRs be filed in all districts where similar cases against the Ansal Group have surfaced, following the pattern observed in Lucknow," the statement said. "Additionally, he instructed the formation of a committee comprising the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) and aggrieved

Metropolis strengthens UP presence with acquisition of Scientific Pathology

This is the second acquisition in the North India market this financial year; share of North market to grow from 8 per cent now to 18 per cent by end of FY26

Ram temple in Ayodhya extends visiting hours, gates now open from 6 am

The visiting hours for the Ram temple in Ayodhya have been extended, with the temple now opening an hour earlier at 6 am instead of 7 am. The new schedule, which also includes revised aarti timings, came into effect on Monday, the temple trust's media centre said. According to the updated schedule, devotees can enter the temple from 6:30 am to 11:50 am following the Shringar Aarti. The temple will then close at 12 pm for the Raj Bhog Aarti. Visiting hours will resume from 1 pm to 6:50 pm, after which the Sandhya Aarti will take place at 7 pm. Devotees will be allowed to visit until 9:45 pm, and the temple will finally close for the day after the Shayan Aarti at 10 pm, the trust said.

Uttar Pradesh govt aims to double maize production to 2.73 mt by 2027

The state is also looking to double maize production by 2027 to 2.73 million tonnes (mt) by augmenting its area and per-hectare yield

UP official booked for leaking Class 10 paper on internal WhatsApp group

An examination centre in-charge has been booked for allegedly leaving the class 10 math paper of UP board on an official WhatsApp group. The incident occurred on the morning of the exam taking place at Chaudhary BL Inter College. The exam was underway Saturday, when, at 9.37 AM, the centre administrator, Anju Yadav, sent the math paper to the official examination WhatsApp group, according to education department sources. The group comprised 125 officials, including the Etah District Magistrate, District School Inspector (DIOS), Static Magistrate, Sector Magistrate, and the Center Superintendent. Static Magistrate Brijesh Kumar said, "Upon discovering the issue, I sought a clarification from Anju Yadav and had the paper removed from the group. The matter was then reported to District School Inspector Dr Indrajit Singh." Kumar filed a complaint at Jaithra Police Station on Saturday evening. "Based on the complaint, a case was registered against Anju Yadav under the relevant section

Wave, Agristo to invest Rs 750 cr in UP to expand potato processing plant

Wave Group and Belgium's Agristo NV will invest around Rs 750 crore to expand their potato processing plant in Uttar Pradesh to make premium french fries, amid rising global demand for processed food. In 2019, Wave Group firm Masa Global Food Pvt Ltd and Agristo's subsidiary firm IMSTO NV, Belgium had formed a 50:50 joint venture firm to establish a potato processing plant at Bijnor to make dehydrated potato flakes. The name of the joint venture firm is Agristo Masa Pvt Ltd. The plant started operations in 2022 with an annual capacity of 7,500 tonnes. In an interview with PTI, Wave Group Chairman Manpreet Singh Chadha noted that there is an immense growth potential in Indian food processing sector. He also stressed on the need to boost crop yields and processing capacity for augmenting farmers income. "We are setting up a new production line for export quality french fries at Bijnor," Chadha told PTI. He said the total investment on this expansion will be around Rs 750 crore, whi

Here's how Prayagraj learned to live with stories of Kumbh stampedes

"My uncle had saved his sister by pulling her out of the river waters by her hair as she slipped below amid the commotion," says city-based advocate Niranjan Lal recalling the 1954 Kumbh Mela stampede stories he had heard from his aunt who survived it. This was the first Kumbh in Allahabad after Independence, and the tragic incident took place on February 3 on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. According to official estimates, several hundred had died in the stampede. Seventy-one years later, a stampede took place on January 29, again on Mauni Amavasya day as a massive crowd sought to enter into the Triveni Sangam waters for the 'amrit snan'. Lal, 67, and his wife were camping in a Swiss cottage in Sector 6 of Mahakukbh Nagar, when they got a call from their son at home late night, cautioning them not to go to the Sangam due to the stampede. "We didn't step out from the camp until the sun came out, and at around 11 am, we went to Dashashwamedh Ghat on Ganga, located near Sector 6. The

They only indulge in Hindu-Muslim politics: Shivpal Yadav slams BJP in UP

"Inflation, unemployment and corruption, all three have increased, they have handed over the state to the bureaucracy, says Shivpal Yadav

Sambhal court rejects bail petitions of 17 accused in Nov 24 violence

A court in the Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh on Friday rejected the bail petition of 17 accused in the violence that took place here on November 24 last year, a government advocate said on Saturday. Additional District and Sessions Judge Nirbhay Narain Rai had on Thursday rejected 18 such bail applications. Till now, 65 bail petitions have been rejected in this case and the remaining petitions are to be heard on other dates, Additional District Government Advocate Hari Om Prakash Saini told PTI on Saturday. Saini also said, "We presented arguments before the honourable court that four innocent people have lost their lives in the incident of November 24. These accused used such means with the intention to kill the police, which included throwing stones, firing was also done. Police have identified the accused on the basis of video footage. "Bullets and other items have also been recovered from them. All these arguments were presented by me in the court, on the basis of which all

Four dead, several injured in collision on Agra-Lucknow expressway

Several others sustained injuries and were taken to Sandhya Hospital in Fatehabad for treatment

Fire tenders to deliver Sangam water across 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh

The Fire Department is using fire brigades to transport Sangam water to district headquarters for fire personnel and other officials who could not attend the Maha Kumbh

Allahabad HC directs ASI to clean Jama Masjid in Sambhal, no whitewashing

The Allahabad High Court on Friday directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to clean the premises of Jama Masjid in Sambhal but did not pass an order for whitewashing of the mosque. The order was passed by Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal on an application by Committee of Management, Jama Masjid seeking permission for whitewashing and cleaning of the mosque ahead of Ramzan. On Thursday, the court directed the ASI to immediately inspect the mosque site and appoint a team of three officers who would submit a report in this connection by 10 am on Friday. According to the ASI report, the interior of the mosque has ceramic paint and there is no need to whitewash it at present. During the hearing on Friday, senior advocate S F A Naqvi, appearing for the mosque committee, submitted that they only want whitewashing and lighting work to be done. On this, the court asked the ASI to clean the dust and clear the grass on the premises. Naqvi assured the court that no hindrance will be cau

Rs 10,000 bonus, special medal, 7-day leave for 75k cops on Maha Kumbh duty

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a special Rs 10,000 bonus and the 'Maha Kumbh Seva Medal' for 75,000 police personnel who served during the "historic gathering", Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday. The personnel will also receive a one-week phased leave as a token of appreciation for their efforts in managing the grand religious event, he said. Speaking at a special event at the Ganga Mandapam, CM Adityanath praised the police force's patience and discipline, acknowledging the challenging crowd management during the 45-day pilgrimage. "Our personnel were even pushed by people at times but they displayed remarkable resilience and patience," he said. Describing the Maha Kumbh as the world's largest and most historic gathering, Adityanath credited its success to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visionary leadership and the collective efforts of the security personnel. He highlighted how the event seamlessly blended faith and economy, drawing 66.3 crore devotees

Not Sarkari Kumbh: Shankaracharya Saraswati Maharaj sets March 17 deadline

The full moon of the Magh month had passed, and all the 'Kalpavasi' who were at the Kumbh had already left after the Purnima of Magh month, Shankaracharya said

Uttar Pradesh eyes Rs 70K cr investment in electronics, data centres

The investments will catalyse the 'Make in UP' and 'Brand UP' vision, a senior state government official said

Teen, his parents held for 'anti-national slogans' during India-Pak match

According to police, around 9:30 pm, while the match was still ongoing, a man walking by the family's home claimed he heard the accused boy yelling those slogans